Founded in 2004 in a converted warehouse in Tophane, this privately owned, non-profit museum (known as Istanbul Modern for short) is the first of its kind in Istanbul and mainly features the works of up-and-coming Turkish artists in a light, airy space overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.

The Archaeological Museum proudly displays more than 60,000 Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Anatolian antiquities.

The historical mansion and new gallery annex are now a museum hosting national and foreign exhibitions.

Initially built as a church in the 4th century, then a mosque, and now a museum, the Hagia Sophia represents one of the finest examples Byzantine architecture. Identifiable by its central dome that seems to float above the main structure, the Hagia Sophia has a history of being severely damaged by seismic activity. The dome itself actually collapsed several times throughout history. The structure served as Istanbul’s principle mosque for nearly 500 years until it was turned into a museum in 1935.

Commonly knows as just Istanbul Modern, the museum is the first of its kind in Turkey. With contemporary exhibitions on two floors, the museum also holds a restaurant, cinema and library. Every Thursday, the museum offers free admission to all visitors.

The only place in Istanbul where 3,500 delegates can sit down together to enjoy a five-star gala dinner, the ICEC offers a combination of state-of-the-art facilities and superior service.

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum is the first major museum in Turkey dedicated to the history of transportation, industry and communications.